Method for use a user selectable shaped staple and apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention discloses a method for securing items together with a user selectable shaped staples and a stapler for dispensing said the user selectable staples. The stapler has a replaceable guide housing assembly designed for the particular user selectable staple having components including a punch, die and guide conforming substantially to the shape of the head of the staple for driving the user selectable staple into a designated material, such as sheets of paper, selected for said the fastening method. The staples are comprised of a head portion and parallel leg portions with the legs extending substantially perpendicular from the planar head portion and wherein the head portion is of a style depicting a form such as a trademark, company logo, a letter or symbol of any kind.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/286,207,filed Nov. 2, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,840,422, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to staplers and, morespecifically, to user selectable shaped staples and a stapler fordispensing said user selectable staples. The stapler has a replaceableguide housing assembly designed for the particular user selectablestaple having components including a punch, die and guide conformingsubstantially to the shape of the head of the staple for driving theuser selectable staple into a designated material, such as sheets ofpaper, selected for said fastening method.

The staples are comprised of a head portion and parallel leg portionswith the legs extending substantially perpendicular from the planar headportion and wherein the head portion is of a style depicting a form suchas a trademark, company logo, a letter or symbol of any kind.

In addition the present invention provides for an additional element inthe form of a kit whereby users having the stapler of the presentinvention can purchase a kit comprised of a different staple design ofany color or shape having a plurality of said staples along with themating punch head, top guide and bottom guide for that particular designof staple. The kits would be available through retail outlets such asK-Mart, Apple, Stop & Shop, Macy's, King Kullen, etc. The kits can alsobe custom made for companies for any logos that they have.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

There are other stapler devices designed for specialized staples.Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 1,554,686 issued to Muth on Sep. 22,1925.

Another patent was issued to Havener on Aug. 25, 1931 as U.S. Pat. No.1,820,224. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 2,473,253 was issued to Place onJun. 14, 1949 and still yet another was issued on Jan. 8, 1980 to Satoas U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,474.

Another patent was issued to Yanagida on May 13, 1980 as U.S. Pat. No.4,202,481. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,608 was issued to Mitsuhashion Nov. 7, 1989.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,554,686 Inventor: John Muth Issued: Sep. 22, 1925

In a strip staple machine, the combination with means for feeding astaple strip and means for severing and driving the individual staples,of means for engaging a leg of the foremost staple on said strip andholding said staple against turning during the severing operation, saidmachine having means for positively moving said engaging and holdingmeans into and out of a position so to engage said leg.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,820,224 Inventor: Arthur R. Havener Issued: Aug. 25,1931

Disclosed is a holder and carrier for a riveting machine having, incombination, a slide, a pair of oppositely disposed spring arms fast tosaid slide and spaced apart, and a pair of oppositely disposed platesfast to the lower ends of said arms, the under faces of said platesbeing provided with grooves, which form a guideway adapted to receiveand hold a flat piece of material.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,473,253 Inventor: Desmond R. LaPlace Issued: Jun. 14,1949

The invention is an apparatus of the class described comprising amagazine for holding flat staples in face-to-face relation, the stapleshaving a head portion and two leg portions, means for moving stapleshorizontally one at a time from the magazine, and means for deflectingthe legs of the staple vertically by swinging them about an axis thattraverses the head, and means for confining the head in a horizontalposition during such operation of moving the staples and bending thelegs.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,474 Inventor: Hisao Sato Issued: Jan. 8, 1980

A stapler including a staple magazine loaded with conventional staplesand a tag magazine detachably connected to the bottom of the staplemagazine and loaded with a stick of tags which are detachably connectedto each other in a predetermined overlapping relationship in series.When a lever is depressed, a staple driver drives the foremost staple ofthe staple stick in the staple magazine into the foremost one of thestick of tags in the tag magazine, detaching it from the stick, andfurther into one or more works so as to attach the tag to the work orworks. In addition, various tags adapted for use with the stapler aredisclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,481 Inventor: Jun Yanagida Issued: May 13, 1980

A stapling machine adapted for use with a special configuration of awire staple comprising a base plate having a wire staple receiving moldor recess in one end portion thereof and upright flanged portions atboth sides on the opposite ends thereof; a wire staple holding frame ina cylindrical configuration having a cross-sectional shape conforming tothe shape of an ornamental wire staple having a broadened center beamsection which is wider than the staple points or legs at both sidesthereof, and a leaf spring connected at one end thereof with the wirestaple holding frame, and the other end being partially bent in aU-shape to provide a repulsive force and partially formed into ahook-shape; a pressure applying member including at one end portionthereof a wire staple extruding member formed in a fork-shape to freelyslide into and out of grooves formed in said wire staple holding frameand a pair of upright flanged portions at both sides of the other endthereof forming a bearing for a shaft so as to be pivotally connectedwith the upright flanged portions provided on the base plate; and amagnet to attract and hold in position the wire staple placed in thestaple wire holding frame.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,608 Inventor: Yoshio Mitsuhashi Issued: Nov. 7, 1989

A stapler for use with sheet metal staples each having an ornamentjoined to a bridge interconnecting a pair of parallel legs. The staplesare bonded together to form a staple bar, with the ornaments placed inoverlapping relation to one another so that the bridges of the joinedstaples form an obtuse angle with each pair of staple legs. The staplerhas an elongate staple magazine which is shaped to accommodate theornamented staple bar and which is pivoted at its rear end on a base sothat the front end of the staple magazine is movable into and out ofengagement with an anvil or matrix on the base. Pivotally coupled toboth the base and the staple magazine, a handle has an ejector fordriving the successive ornamented staples out of the front end of thestaple magazine against the anvil on the base.

While these fastening devices may be suitable for the purposes for whichthey were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes ofthe present invention, as hereinafter described.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is a stapler for dispensing user selectablestaples. The stapler has a replaceable guide housing assembly designedfor a particular user selectable staple having components conforming tothe shape of the head of the staple for driving the user selectablestaple into a designated material, such as sheets of paper, selected forsaid fastening method. The staples are comprised of a head portion andparallel leg portions with the legs extending substantiallyperpendicular from the planar head portion.

The replaceable guide housing assembly is comprised of a housing havinga retaining fastener whereby said replaceable guide housing assembly canbe releasably attached to the stapler housing. The replaceable guidehousing assembly has a vertical throughbore and a longitudinalthroughbore. The longitudinal throughbore provides means for delivery ofthe user selectable staples to the vertical throughbore from a staplerhousing magazine. The vertical throughbore has a guide fixedlypositioned therein by means of a fastener and receives the next userselectable staple for application from said longitudinal throughborehaving a plurality of said user selectable staples positioned within amagazine having a tensioning member. Each of said staples is attached tothe next by means well known within the art forming a row of userselectable staples that can be inserted into the stapler magazine.

Positioned above the guide resident user selectable staple is a diefixedly positioned within said vertical throughbore by means of afastener. The die also has a throughbore conforming to the shape of thehead of the user selectable staple and has a punch traveling thereinconforming in shape to the die throughbore and head of the userselectable staple shape.

The punch is connected to a pressure applying handle by means of a punchrod extending through a plate having a tensioning member positionedbetween said plate and the drive handle for keeping the drive handle andpunch head in the retracted position. The drive handle performs thefunction of driving the punch through the die engaging the userselectable staple head driving said stapler through the guide with thestaple legs engaging and passing through the material to be fasteneduntil said staple legs engage the staple legs diverter causing the legsto close under the staple head binding the fastened materialtherebetween.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide novel means forselectively binding sheets of material using a decorative means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide said decorativemeans having a predetermined shaped image that may further employ color,print, photoprint, graphic image, engraving or drawing thereupon.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide saiddecorative means with a binding means.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide saiddecorative means with a first binding element.

A further object of the present invention is to provide said decorativemeans with a top surface forming said first binding means whereupon saidcolor, print, photoprint, graphic image, engraving or drawing isdisplayed thereon.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide saiddecorative means having a top surface with lancing means for penetratinga material selected for application of said novel means.

A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide saiddecorative means having a top surface with a second binding meansincorporating said lancing means.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide saiddecorative means having a first binding element with a second bindingelement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide said decorativemeans with said second binding elements that lance the bound material.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide said secondbinding element with a lancing means.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide saiddecorative means having a top surface having second binding elementspositioned on each end.

A further object of the present invention to provide said decorativemeans having a top surface with opposing legs positioned on the distalends.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide saidopposing legs extending substantially perpendicular to said top surface.

A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide saidopposing perpendicular-like legs having distal ends terminating inprongs.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide saiddecorative means having a top surface with said opposing legs formingsaid second binding means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide said opposing legsterminating in prongs performing said lancing means.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a divertingmeans for said second binding element having lancing means.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide adriving means for said decorative means.

A further object of the present invention is to incorporate saiddecorative means into a user selectable shaped staple.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a method forusing said decorative means of said novel means whereby after selectingthe material or materials for application of said novel means saiddriving means engages said decorative means having a first binding meansand a second binding means with a lancing means wherein said lancingmeans lances the material before engaging said diverting means whichdiverts the second binding means coparallel with said first bindingmeans thereby clamping the material between said first and secondbinding means.

Another primary object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus for the use of said decorative means.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a staplerhaving a removable guide housing.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide astapler having a user selectable staple and a removable guide housingfor driving said staple into a material selected for fastening.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a guide housinghaving a first throughbore providing means for delivering a plurality ofstaples to the drive mechanism and a second throughbore providing meansfor housing the drive mechanism.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a guidehousing having a bottom guide for receiving staples prior to applicationwith said bottom guide having a throughbore conforming in shape to thestapler head.

A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide abottom guide removably fastened to the guide housing by means of afastener.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a bottomguide housing fixedly positioned with the second or vertical throughboreforming an element of the guide housing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a top guideremovably fastened to the guide housing by means of a fastener.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a top guidefixedly positioned within the second/vertical throughbore forminganother element of the guide housing.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a topguide having a throughbore conforming substantially to the shape of thestaple head.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a punch headpositioned within the second/vertical throughbore forming anotherelement of the guide housing.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a punch headhaving a shape conforming to the shape of the stapler head.

A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide apunch head that travels through the top guide when pressure is appliedto the operative handle.

A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide apunch head that engages the staple head and causes said staple to travelthrough the bottom guide engaging the material to be stapled, passingthrough said material before having the staple legs deformed into aclosed position by the stapler leg diverter element.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a punch headoperatively connected to the pressure applying handle by means of apunch rod.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means forreturning the pressure applying handle and attached punch head to theretracted position after a force has been applied thereto.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide means forpurchasing additional user selectable staples of varying designs.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide aninterchangeable stapler kit having a user selectable staple, punch head,top guide and bottom guide that can be purchased separately.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a customstapling system comprising a unique stapler, interchangeable staple kit,and user selectable decorative staples for personal or industry use,available in any color, metal shape, logo or graphic image.

Additional objects of the present invention will appear as thedescription proceeds.

The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art byproviding a stapler for dispensing user selectable staples. The staplerhas a replaceable guide housing assembly designed for a particular userselectable staple having components conforming to the shape of the headof the staple for driving the user selectable staple into a designatedmaterial, such as sheets of paper, selected for said fastening method.The staples are comprised of a head portion and parallel leg portionswith the legs extending substantially perpendicular from the planar headportion and wherein the head portion is of a style depicting a form suchas a trademark, company logo, a letter or symbol of any kind.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from thedescription to follow. In the description reference is made to theaccompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shownby way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention maybe practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detailto enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it isto be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and thatstructural changes may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference charactersdesignate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in alimiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best definedby the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWINGS

-   10 stapling apparatus-   12 stapler housing-   14 stapler housing pivot point-   15 stapler housing fastener aperture-   16 staple magazine-   18 stapler housing base-   20 stapler housing diverter-   21 material-   22 user selectable staple-   22A user selectable shaped staple-   22B user selectable shaped staple-   22C user selectable shaped staple-   22D user selectable shaped staple-   22E user selectable shaped staple having indicia-   24 user selectable staple top surface-   26 user selectable staple image-   28 user selectable staple legs-   30 user selectable staple lancing element-   32 user selectable staple prongs-   34 guide housing assembly-   35 guide housing-   36 stapler guide housing retaining fastener-   37 guide housing fastener throughbore-   38 guide housing guide fastener-   40 guide housing die fastener-   42 guide housing vertical throughbore-   44 guide housing longitudinal throughbore-   46 guide housing drive threaded bore-   48 guide housing guide-   48A guide housing shaped guide-   48B guide housing shaped guide-   48C guide housing shaped guide-   50 guide housing guide throughbore-   52 guide housing guide interior wall-   54 guide housing guide exterior wall-   56 guide housing die-   56A guide housing shaped die-   56B guide housing shaped die-   56C guide housing shaped die-   58 guide housing die throughbore-   60 guide housing die interior wall-   62 guide housing die exterior wall-   64 guide housing punch-   64A guide housing selectable shaped punch-   64B guide housing selectable shaped punch-   64C guide housing selectable shaped punch-   66 guide housing punch exterior surface-   68 guide housing punch rod-   70 guide housing punch rod fastener-   72 guide housing punch rod drive fastener-   74 guide housing drive plate fastener-   76 guide housing drive plate-   78 guide housing drive return spring-   80 guide housing drive handle

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now bedescribed, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawingin which:

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of the present invention in use.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the selectable shaped staple.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of theinvention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limitingthe invention to those particular embodiments; practitioners skilled inthe art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. Fordefinition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader isdirected to appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, shown is an illustrative view of the presentinvention in use. The apparatus 10 is comprised of a housing 12 having abase 18 and pivot point 14 wherein the staples contained in magazine 16are moved by a tensioning member into the guide housing assembly 34fastened to housing 12 by stapler guide housing retaining fastener 36.Pressure placed upon handle 80 causes the housing to pivot upon pivotpoint 14 driving user selectable staple 22 through the material beingbound 21 until the user selectable staple 22 encounters the staplehousing diverter 20 thereby binding the selected material 21.

The stapling apparatus 10 has a guide housing 34 that includes guide rod68, punch 64, die 56, and guide 48. With the exception of the guide rod68, each of the aforementioned has a shape that is designed toaccommodate the user selectable staple 22.

For illustrative purposes three different staples 22 are shown withtheir accompanying components that are uniquely designed to accommodatethe user selectable staple 22. The user selectable staple 22A has aguide 48A for receiving the next available staple from magazine 16.Positioned above guide 48A is die 56A having a throughbore 58 conformingto the user selectable shaped staple 22A. Positioned within throughbore58 is guide housing selectable shaped punch 64A having a punch exteriorsurface 66 that conforms and substantially engages die interior wall 60.Once pressure is applied to guide rod 68 punch 64A advances alongthroughbore 58 of die 56A engaging top surface 24 of staple 22A causingthe staple to pass into a throughbore in guide 48A and into the material21 to be bound.

The user selectable staple 22B has a guide 48B for receiving the nextavailable staple from magazine 16. Positioned above guide 48B is die 56Bhaving a throughbore 58 conforming to the user selectable shaped staple22B. Positioned within throughbore 58 is guide housing selectable shapedpunch 64B having a punch exterior surface 66 that conforms andsubstantially engages die interior wall 60. Once pressure is applied toguide rod 68 punch 64B advances along throughbore 58 of die 56B engagingtop surface 24 of staple 22B causing the staple to pass into the guidethroughbore 50 and into the material 21 to be bound whereupon staplelegs 28 having lancing element 30 including prong 32 pierces material 21until engaging the stapler diverter element 20 whereupon material 21 isclamped between top surface 24 of user selectable staple 22B and staplelegs 28 of user selectable staple 22B.

Also shown is user selectable staple 22C having a guide 48C forreceiving the next available stapler from magazine 16. Positioned aboveguide 48C is die 56C having a throughbore 58 conforming to the topsurface 24 of user selectable shaped staple 22C and having positionedtherein selectable shaped punch 64C having a punch exterior surface 66that conforms and substantially engages die interior wall 60 of die 56C.Once pressure is applied to guide rod 68 punch 64C advances alongthroughbore 58 of die 56C engaging top surface 24 of staple 22C causingthe staple to pass into the guide throughbore whereupon with continuedpressure staple 22C will pierce one or more sheets of material 21causing said material 21 to be clamped between top surface 24 of staple22C and legs 28 of staple 22C.

Referring to FIG. 2, shown is a block diagram of the guide housingassembly 34 having a user selectable staple 22 therein. The guidehousing assembly 34 has a handle 80 for applying pressure to theassembly to drive the user selectable staple 22 having a lancing elementinto the material to be bound. The handle 80 is connected to the punch64 by means of punch rod 68. The punch 64 has a predetermined shapeconforming to the top surface of the selectable shaped staple 22. Eachpunch 64 has a mating die 56 having a throughbore 58 and walls 60 whichsubstantially conform and engage wall 66 of punch 64. Positioned belowdie 56 is guide 48 that is used to receive the next available staple 22from the stapler magazine. Once pressure is applied to handle 80 punch64 passes through die 56 and engages the top surface of staple 22positioned within guide 48. Continued pressure causes punch 64 to movestaple 22 through guide 48 until the staple legs engage the staplerdiverter member which channels the legs under the staple top surfacebinding the material therebetween.

Referring to FIG. 3, shown is a perspective view of the presentinvention. The stapling apparatus 10 is comprised of a housing 12 havinga base 18 and pivot point 14 and a staple magazine 16 for delivering astick of user selectable shaped staples to the guide housing assembly.The guide housing assembly 34 is releasably fastened to the staplerhousing 12 by means of fastener 36 whereby guide housing assembly 34 canbe selectively removed for attachment of an alternate guide housingassembly providing means for using an alternate user selectable shapedstaple 22.

In addition to replacing guide housing assembly 34 by removal of thestapler guide housing retaining fastener 36, specific components withinthe guide housing assembly 34 manufactured having a specific shapeconforming to the top surface of the user selectable shaped staple 22can be replaced by alternate components specifically manufactured for analternate user selectable shaped staple 22.

Referring to FIG. 4, shown is an exploded view of the present inventionfor a user selectable shaped staple. The stapling apparatus 10 iscomprised of a housing 12 having a base 18 and pivot point 14 having astapler guide housing retaining fastener 36 for releasably fasteningguide housing assembly 34 to said stapler housing. The guide housing 34includes handle 80, guide housing drive return spring 78, plate 76,guide rod 68, punch 64, die 56, guide 48 and guide housing 35. Punch 64,die 56, and guide 48 are manufactured with a specific shape for use witha specific user selectable shaped staple.

The user selectable staple 22B has a guide 48B for receiving the nextavailable staple from the staple magazine. Positioned above guide 48B isdie 56B having a throughbore 58 conforming to the user selectable shapedstaple 22B. Positioned within throughbore 58 is guide housing selectableshaped punch 64B having a punch exterior surface 66 that conforms andsubstantially engages die interior wall 60. Once pressure is applied toguide rod 68 punch 64B advances along throughbore 58 of die 56B engagingtop surface 24 of staple 22B causing the staple to pass into the guidethroughbore 50 and into the material selected for stapling. Staple legs28 having lancing element 30 including prong 32 pierces the selectedmaterial until engaging the stapler diverter element 20 whereupon theselected material is clamped between top surface 24 of user selectablestaple 22B and staple legs 28 of user selectable staple 22B.

As previously stated, in addition to replacing guide housing assembly 34by removal of the stapler guide housing retaining fastener 36 fromstapler housing fastener aperture 15 and guide housing fastenerthroughbore 37, the specific components guide housing punch 64, guidehousing die 56 and guide housing guide 48 within the guide housingassembly 34 can be replaced with alternate components manufactured foran alternate user selectable shaped staple 22.

This provides a method whereby the guide housing punch 64, guide housingdie 56, and guide housing guide 48 can be sold as a kit which mayinclude the alternate user selectable shaped staple designed for saidcomponents.

Referring to FIG. 5, shown is a perspective view of the presentinvention. The stapling apparatus 10 has a housing 12 with staplemagazine 16 contained therein having a tensioning member for moving userselectable shaped staple 22 b into guide housing assembly 34 fastened tohousing 12 by stapler guide housing retaining fastener 36.

Referring to FIG. 6, shown is a partial sectional view of the presentinvention. The stapling apparatus 10 has a housing 12 with staplemagazine 16 for moving user selectable shaped staple 22 into guidehousing guide 48. The guide housing 34 is comprised of handle 80 andplate 76 with guide housing drive return spring 78 positionedtherebetween. Guide rod 68 connects handle 80 to punch 64 that travelsin the throughbore of die 56 engaging user selectable staple 22positioned within guide 48.

Referring to FIG. 7, shown is a partial sectional view of the presentinvention having pressure applied to handle 80 cause the punch 64 toengage user selectable shaped staple 22 moving said staple into thethroughbore 50 of guide housing guide 48.

Referring to FIG. 8, shown is a partial sectional view of the presentinvention. The stapling apparatus 10 has a housing 12 with staplemagazine 16 for moving user selectable shaped staple 22 into guidehousing guide 48. The guide housing 34 is comprised of handle 80 andplate 76 with guide housing drive return spring 78 positionedtherebetween. Guide rod 68 connects handle 80 to punch 64 that travelsin the throughbore of die 56 engaging user selectable staple 22positioned within guide 48 to travel into throughbore 50 of guide 48before lancing the material to be stapled whereupon staple legs 28 arechanneled by stapler housing diverter 20 causing the material to beclamped between top surface 24 and staple legs 28 of user selectableshaped staple 22.

Referring to FIG. 9, shown is the user selectable shaped stapler of thepresent invention 22 shown illustrated in alternate embodiments 22B, 22Dand 22E. Each has a top surface 24 and stapler image 26, with userselectable shaped staple 22E having indicia thereon. User selectableshaped staple 22 has a pair of legs 28 positioned at each end of topsurface 24 and extending perpendicularly therefrom. The legs 28 havinglancing elements 30 terminating in prongs 32 for piercing apredetermined material selected for stapling using the user selectableshaped staple 22.

Referring to FIG. 9, shown is the user selectable shaped stapler of thepresent invention 22 shown illustrated in alternate embodiments 22B, 22Dand 22E. Each has a top surface 24 and stapler image 26. With userselectable shaped staple 22E having indicia thereon. User selectableshaped staple 22 has a pair of legs 28 positioned at each distal end oftop surface 24 and extending perpendicularly therefrom. The legs 28having lancing elements 30 terminating in prongs 32 for piercing apredetermined material selected for stapling using the user selectableshaped staple 22.

1. A method for securing items together with user selectable shaped staples comprising the steps of: a) inserting a plurality of user selectable shaped staples into a magazine section of a stapler wherein each of said plurality of user selectable shaped staples has a central section having a predetermined shape; b) advancing one of said plurality of user selectable shaped staples into a guide housing of said stapler having a shape substantially similar to the shape of said plurality of user selectable shaped staples; c) positioning items to be secured together between said magazine section and a base of said stapler at a position aligned with said guide housing; d) applying a force on a side of said magazine section towards a base of said stapler; e) causing a punch having a shape substantially similar to the shape of said plurality of user selectable shaped staples to contact said one of said user selectable shaped staples received within said guide housing to be released from said guide housing and out of said magazine section; f) puncturing the items to be secured together by end sections of said user selectable shaped staple released from said guide housing thereby securing the items together.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of advancing a user selectable shaped staple of said plurality of user selectable shaped staples adjacent to said user selectable shaped staple released from said guide housing into said guide housing.
 3. A method for securing items together with a user selectable decorative staple comprising the steps of: a) inserting a plurality of user selectable decorative staples into a magazine section of a stapler wherein each of said plurality of user selectable decorative staples has a central section having a width and identifying indicia located thereon; b) advancing one of said plurality of user selectable decorative staples into a guide housing of said stapler having a shape substantially similar to the shape of said plurality of user selectable decorative staples; c) positioning items to be secured together between said magazine section and a base of said stapler at a position aligned with said guide housing; d) applying a force on a side of said magazine section towards a base of said stapler; e) causing a punch having a shape substantially similar to the shape of said plurality of user selectable decorative staples to contact said user selectable decorative staple received within said guide housing to be released from said guide housing and out of said magazine section; and f) puncturing the items to be secured together by end sections of said user selectable decorative staple released from said guide housing thereby securing the items together.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the step of advancing a user selectable decorative staple of said plurality of user selectable decorative staples adjacent to said user selectable decorative staple released from said guide housing into said guide housing.
 5. A method for securing items together with user selectable shaped staples comprising the steps of: a) inserting a plurality of user selectable shaped staples into a magazine section of a stapler wherein each of said plurality of user selectable shaped staples has a central section having a predetermined shape; b) advancing one of said plurality of user selectable shaped staples into a guide of said stapler having a shape substantially similar to the shape of said plurality of user selectable shaped staples; c) positioning items to be secured together between said magazine section and a base of said stapler at a position aligned with said guide; d) applying a force on a side of said magazine section towards a base of said stapler; e) causing a punch having a shape substantially similar to the shape of said plurality of user selectable shaped staples to pass through a die positioned between said punch and said guide and contact said one of said user selectable shaped staples received within said guide to be released from said guide and out of said magazine section; f) puncturing the items to be secured together by end sections of said user selectable shaped staple released from said guide thereby securing the items together. 